The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-09-30
THE HAUNTED CABIN.

In tine latter part OF the winter o
1879 | was one of a party of eight
prospecting for mica along the lower
slopes OF the great Balsam range il
western North Carolina.
Trapping was an absorbing pastime
and more than one OF our boys haC
developed into quite expert trappers
but none more so than myself. In
deed, my success in this line had gain.
ed for me nc little reputation.
One clear, cold day, with one of the
mountaineers as guide and assistant,
left the camp for the purpose of set
ting some traps in a different part oil
the range from any yet visited.
After a long and tedious tramp
through dense jungles, and many ard
uous climbs up precipitOus slopes and
down again, we found ourselves in the
middle of the afternoon near the top
OF one OF the Hottest peaks and agood
ten miles from camp.
We had not intended to consume so
much time over the traps, but had be-
come so closely occupied as to fail to
note how fast the day was going.
saw an anxious look overspread
my companions face.
ppm afraid hits ~gwineter snow"
he said, after a moments troubled ex-
animation OF the clouds overhead.
The words were scarcely out when
several flakes began to drift down
ward.
Our situation was truly an unenvia-
bic one, on an exposed mountain-top
with an altitude OF more than 5000
teet, heavy snowstorm imminent, and
the nearest human habitation at least
six miles away.
Wehad gone about threeor four hun
dred yards further, the storm increas-
ing every moment, when suddenly we
came square upon a small, some
what dilapidated log cabin in a kind of
hollow cave at the very base of atow-
ering ledge of rocks, and so swallowed
up in the dense gloom OF the balsams
that but for our almost stumbling up
against it it would have entirely es-
eaped BUR notice.
1885, " AnAA = ACClAllE vi u6NOuU
ness Iplaced my hand upon the some
what shaky door for the purpose OF
pushing it open to enter, when to my
intense astonishment, my companion
drew back with a frightened cry.
For Gods sake doan go in thar!"
he entreated in hoarse, thick tones
Hits a haunted place, an thar's a
curse a.hangin' over it ever sence lube
Higgins got that bad tux with ther
drink ez ter murder his wife an baby!
Jube nissef tux ter Their mounting
an never was heard of no mo- an
thesperit Their oman an'ther baby's
forever a-hanting' o. Their place an
a'crvin' out. I've heard ther voices
many q time myself a comm down
Their mounting"
In vain ! tried to demonstrate with
him. Like all the mountaineers, 7
found him possessed OF no small
amount of superstition.
'Nothin' goodll come o. hit, L tell
vel" he cried, almost frantically.
Zone O. t'other O. us, mebbe both, III
hev ter go ef we enter that cursid
place"
He finally allowed himself to be led lin
TO- the cabin, although could plain
ly see his superstitious fears were by
no NEAR allayed.
1t was a double log cabin with a
somewhat larger front room and al
much smaller back one divided by q
thin partition. Overhead in the
front room there was a loft reached
by a ladder in the back room.
OF this much took note by the dim
light then pervading the place. +
would have continued my investipa.
tons but for the intense darkness
that had SO suddenly settled down
upon as, caused / well knew bv the
increase in the storm. BY means Of
the leaves and dried twiqs that had
collected near one of the windows.
and by tearing up the old ladder.
which we found to be quite rotten.
We soon had FIRE kindled in the broad
fireplace, for we had taken the Ore.
caution to provide ourselves with
matches.
My m~ountaineer kept close beside
me during ali these operations. IN.
deed, he did not once allow me to oct
beyond the reach OF his hand.
i laughed to myself nd lss,la-
his somewhat ludicrous appearance
and openly rallied him several times
ia regard TO his foolish fears and SUP
er~stitions. But q moment later
turned almost faint with horror as
TIE fire, blazing up. showed me a pool
Of blood directly beside mel
y was 81 considerable size and
freshly spilled. A cold SILVER passed
over me- andI felt my hearE sink, il